<"FW" Moray> Eel Project 9/12/07
I tried sending this to Bob Fenner but the e-mail was sent back as having the wrong address.
<Ah, yes Trevor... We had to switch ISPs, and no longer have the individual email addresses... I am sending this note to Marco Lichtenberger here, as he is the person who knows the most re this group... of anyone I've had occasion to meet! Bob Fenner>
<<Thanks for the kind words, Bob.>>
This is Trevor. I e-mailed a couple of queries because I've been having problems with my Gymnothorax tile. I've decided not only to do research on my pet even more in-depth, trying to mimic his/her natural habitat but also do my senior project on it.
<<Nice.>>
The project will be based on a brackish-water aquarium best suited to moray eels. A species tank. I need permission that you would agree to help me if I have questions.
<<No problem. >>
My project requires that I will have a community consultant. All you would have to do is answer a few questions if I had them.
<<Sure.>>
What I need is confirmation that you would assist me in my attempt at this project and educate people about this kind of eel that I commonly find in fresh water at the pet shop (Petco) near my house.
<<Okay.>>
This would educate whoever reads the booklet. The eels are ordered in at about five at a time. I assume they're quiet popular because usually only one is left at the end of the week.
<<Could also be dead/escaped/in the filter. Asked for if all the “freshwater” moray eels in another shop are actually sold, a clerk answered to me: “Sometimes they just vanish”. Guess a little bit of education could help here, too…>>
This is how I purchased mine. One might imagine what the eels would face if the people kept them in fresh water for their entire lives, along with an incorrect tank setup. With all of this comes a form I need filled out. This is as it appears on my paper.
Community Consultant Name:
Business Address:
Zip code:
Day Telephone:
Other Telephone:
Senior Project Topic: Gymnothorax tile setup.
<<I am not living in the USA, but Germany, hope that’s not a problem. My name’s Marco Lichtenberger, contact information can be found on the page www.geo-lichtenberger.de.vu under the point “Impressum & Kontakt”. I’d prefer, you send your questions to WWM and will assuredly get an answer, so thousands of WWM readers will have the possibility to read about these eels in addition to your senior project. Cheers, Marco.>>

Moray growth cycles   7/16/06
I was looking for information on moray eel growth.
I bought a "freshwater" snowflake eel of the Gymnothorax tile variety that I have placed with my albino moray which due to information I have researched I am assuming it is Echidna rhodochilus. The moray "trademark" of opening and closing its mouth to breathe is not happening with my albino. The snowflake is breathing in such a manner and I was told by the owner where I buy my fish food that he was a very beautiful and healthy moray as I had just bought him from another shop and went to get some food from my favorite shop on my way home and showed them.
Does anyone know the growth cycles of morays?
<Mmm, yes... there are some very nice/useful graphs/charts of time versus SL (standard length) for many species available on fishbase.org>
I know they are born in one form called leptocephalus and around 3 yrs. change into elvers. Are there species of moray that do not breath the same way or do they eventually over time grow and change into breathing this way?
<Mmm, some "gasp" more than others in general...>
They are both approximately the same length except the snowflake is flat on the sides with fins to the tail while the albino is more or less round behind the neck with a tail that comes to a point with no fins which seems closest to the pics I have seen of the Echidna rhodochilus of the various morays I have so far researched.
<Mmm: http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=11709&genusname=Echidna&speciesname=rhodochilus
unfortunately this is one of the species that does not have "Growth" data on fishbase... Rats! Neither is there such presented for G. tile... These are typically slow growers in the wild and captive conditions (actually, likely less than one percent live a year... due to unstable, unsuitable environment mostly). Bob Fenner>

Re "FW" Moray growth cycles... dead    7/20/06
Thank you for your help but I have some bad news the snowflake died on me and I am assuming he died of starvation along with a possible disease.
<... not uncommon... You did (finally) read on WWM re these so-called freshwater eels?>
I kept track of the number of ghost shrimp and guppies accounting for X amount to be eaten by my albino and still had more than
I should have had. I had a butterfly goby that lived less than 2 weeks and followed similar patterns before the final event and both had skin
the same condition after death. I did not see either one eat. The goby I have now has been with me a while.
<... this tank is too small... one more time>
The albino is a 2nd chance for me as I bought one prior and it died but due to water quality as the aquarium was new and not enough bacteria to
break down the nitrate cycle. I tested the water 2 days ago and it tested really well for very low levels of nitrite
<Should be zero, zip, non-existent>
and I have an ammonia sensor that has not rose above good levels.
<I don't like these "sensors"... not accurate>
Is there anything else I need to check for?
<... read...>
I am considering getting another snowflake if possible but am thinking I should wait until I have a much larger tank for the shear reason that I hear when they are moved they tend to stop eating.
<Bingo>
I had this albino eating within a day of getting him, at least upon visual verification. I feel comfortable with this guy to go 55 then up to larger as the albino is still small and thinner than my pinky finger and he seems so easygoing that eating will not be one of his problems.
<Still... need more space>
I will need 2 large tanks since the albino is brackish because I also have an ornate Bichir that is right around 2"
<Wow! Tiny>
now and want to get a ropefish for his tank mate and have recently moved and need to decide if the 2 large tanks will be placed together or separately. If I leave
things as they are with the 3 fish in my brackish tank and 55 is good I would have them together but if I need something bigger for the albino I will have them placed in different places. I am planning on starting on getting the 1st tank on the successful sale of the old house to have money to get the best. I appreciate all your help.
<Do investigate, plan before purchasing livestock... Bob Fenner>

Re: brackish/marine moray growth cycles  7/19/06
Thank you have been a great help so far and I appreciate the quickness of your response. I have read various recommendations for aquarium sizes for eels. I have read that for my albino I would be lucky if it made it to 18" and 24" max and for the snowflake it may reach between 24' to 36". What size aquarium would you recommend.
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwmorayeels.htm
and the linked files above>
Do you think 55 would be ok with what I have and maybe adding a catfish?
<Mmm... no, not likely a good mix>
I would not mind adding another butterfly goby and bushfish and maybe if you could recommend some brackish catfish for the clean up crew for a total of 6 fish and which size would you recommend for these? The bushfish maybe to only problem because they may become lunch as they do not get big but the butterfly has venom to protect him.
I know that 10 gallon is way too small especially with the addition of the snowflake which I happened upon by shear accident and happened to be not much bigger than my albino except on the sides. I have been keeping extra tabs on water quality and am using a bio wheel filter which I can actually witness how good they are.
<Read... keep a close eye on water quality, get a much larger system... Bob Fenner>

Why To Research BEFORE You Purchase - A Perfect Unfortunate Example - Not so FW eel... 06/14/2006
I have a fresh water tank and just bought a snowflake eel. It's a 55 gal. tank and I read on your website that they should have at least 1.005 salinity in the water.  
<Please....  learn about your animals BEFORE you purchase them....  I see this going somewhere I don't like....>
My first question is that I have many freshwater fish in the tank like a discus, 2 pictus catfish, 2 paradise gourami, a blue and gold gourami, 2 Plecostomus, African butterfly fish, tinfoil barb, Bala shark and two angelfish.
<A slightly incompatible mix to begin with - that tinfoil will outgrow the tank and should be in a group/school, so will the plecs outgrow the tank (eventually - they'll be fine for a good long while), the Bala is a schooler that should be kept in a group and which will also outgrow the tank (much faster than the plecs), and the discus, a very shy, retiring animal, really isn't compatible with any of these, save perhaps the gourami and the pictus.  It's unlikely to become bold enough to get enough food in this group.>
Will raising the salinity as you say to 1.005 or 1.010 bother or be fatal to any of these fish?
<Fatal....  to all....  The snowflake is entirely incompatible in this system.  Your current animals CANNOT tolerate the amount of salt the eel will need as it grows.  It should, as an adult, end up in fully marine conditions.>
Secondly how do you go about raising the salinity up to this point 1.005 or 1.010 without stressing the fish.
<Forget stressing....  you'd ultimately kill the current inhabitants if you do this.  1.005 for a couple weeks might only damage them, but beyond that will come to a point that they can no longer survive.  Truely freshwater fish are NOT brackish fish, and brackish to marine fish, like your eel, are NOT freshwater fish.  These animals are simply and completely incompatible.>
I saw that you told someone not to exceed jumping .002 at a time. So I guess really my question is can you tell me step by step how to raise the salinity in my tank without hurting my fish,
<Can't.>
and if you could please tell me step by step what I need and how to do this because I will admit I am clueless about this.
<Read....  Research....  And most of all, NEVER buy an animal without first learning its needs and considering whether or not you can realistically fulfill those needs.  These are lives....  living things....  please treat them as such.>
Thank you. I would really appreciate if you could answer this E-mail as soon as possible thank you.
<We answer all as we can.  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Eels and Dragonets do not mix….  10/5/05
Hello I’m asking if there is a chance that my 13-inch white cheeked moray eel could have eaten my dragon goby. <I am not familiar with the common name dragon goby; by any chance do you mean a Dragonet or a Mandarin goby? Perhaps (Synchiropus splendidus)?  If this is your specimen then perhaps yes the eel could have eaten him, as they (the dragonets) are slow moving and nocturnal. As for the eel while they usually rely on crustaceans for food, a Dragonet would have been an easy target.>
I have noticed that my dragon goby is missing, because he usually wanders around the tank. But the pet store that I bought him from said that the moray would not eat a dragon goby and that my fish was probably hiding. <Eels are predators.>  I have searched high and low for my dragon goby with no sight of him not even fins or anything you find as leftovers to a feeding. <If this fish in question is a dragonet, it’s possible that it dies of other reasons. They are notoriously hard to care for with the majority of them starving in captivity.> I think it might have been my moray because of the lack of evidence that my dragonfish would have left like fins scales etc.. I really want to know for sure so I can see about getting a refund on my fish at the store.
<Well, good luck with that. Adam J.> <<Mmm, these are brackish to marine animals, Gymnothorax and Gobioides... don't mix. BobF>>

Treating Parasites with Scaleless fishes 7/10/03
I just recently e-mailed you guys (and gals) about the feeding of a freshwater moray eel (I found this in fact, it is Gymnothorax tile).  Now, I have another problem.  My tank came down with ICH.  But, I don't want my moray to die or have a reaction to the medication I use, so which of the following would be better for me to use: QUICK Cure, Ingredients: 25% Formaldehyde, 75% Malachite Green or Maracide (ingredients: Tisaninomethane, Dibromohydroxymercurifluorescein, Aniline green)?  Or something else that I don't have?
<Neither are wholly safe for this eel... it would be best to separate the eel from other fishes with a hospital tank and treat accordingly>
On your website, you said that organic dyes were poisonous to morays, so is Malachite Green an organic dye?  What about Aniline green?  Is that an organic dye too?
<yes to both>
Thanx So much for your help, Adam
<use straight Formalin in a bare-bottomed tank if you must treat the eel. Best regards, Anthony>

"Freshwater" moray eel (03/11/03)
Hi, my name is Nate and I've had a "freshwater" moray now for about six or seven months.
<Hi -- Ananda here, seeing those quotes around "freshwater" and hoping you do indeed have it in brackish water...>
He ate very vigorously for about six and a half months, now he will not eat.  I read a lot on the internet about them and their feeding habits, and it's has only been about three weeks since he last ate.
<Do also check our articles/FAQs on these fish: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwmorayeels.htm and http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwmorayfaqs.htm>
That's not my main concern though; he now has developed white splotches on one side of his body near his tail.  The water has been tested and seemed to be completely fine.  If you have any idea or advice it would be greatly appreciated.  
Thank You.
<Could be a number of things. Without specific numbers for any of your water quality parameters, or more info about the tank, it's impossible to be certain what the problem is. I would do a water change on general principle, and perhaps change the tank salinity a bit. Do look for photos of ich and compare to what's on your fish. If you have ich, check the WetWebMedia site for treatment info. If it isn't ich, a photo and detailed tank and water quality stats would help us ID the problem. --Ananda>

Just got a "freshwater snowflake eel"
Ok at the risk of sounding like an idiot...I just got an eel...the guy I bought it from said it was a freshwater moray snowflake eel, he seemed to know what he was talking about and was fairly helpful...the eel is about 6-8 inches long and in a 10 gallon tank... water is entirely fresh and clean...I got some frozen silversides from the guy I got the eel from and was wondering if this is a good food for him? I threw a few in there, about an inch square cut from the package, I let it thaw and then dropped them in front of his hiding place (a plastic decorative aqua-gator with hollow belly and mouth open) he didn't move for them...I have fish gravel rocks on the bottom and a filter that I got from Wal-mart...I guess I just need to know exactly what steps I need to take to make this a happy healthy eel that isn't going to die on my fiancé.....she will be crushed....please help me....I know that all this is probably in the FAQ but I wanted it personally...if you could send a reply to my e-mail address I would be extremely grateful....thanks a lot.....Mike
<you are correct my friend. There is so much to say, and at times we are pressed so dearly for time to try to keep up with e-mailed queries that restating covered topics can be difficult. The eel species needs to be ID first as a true fresh, brackish or marine species. The 10 gallon tank is obscenely small whatever it is. Diet will depend o species again, but is likely to include crustacea (live shrimp (ghost/grass), crayfish, krill, cocktail shrimp frozen). If it seems to respire fast it may need salted water indeed. Please browse articles and FAQs starting here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwmorayeels.htm
Best regards, Anthony>

Gymnothorax polyuranodon
Hi Anthony! I
<Cheers my friend... and an update: THIS JUST IN: Bob Fenner was recently spotted in a quiet inlet snorkeling with what appeared to be a cluster of helium balloons tethered to his back. When asked what the deal was with the helium balloons, he claimed that he had difficulties securing proper diving gear in this remote location. However, the beer cans strewn about the boat deck and piled up against the helium tank near the tape recorder tell a different story. Look for a Christmas album from Bob this December>
just bought a 'freshwater eel'. Noted in past FAQs that you have recommended addition of salt to the water so that they might survive in the long run. 
<yes...depends on the species. Many are born in freshwater and venture out to the sea. As such, they really cannot be considered freshwater. Brackish is often better. Your species is actually a more freshwater tolerant animal. Still... some salt would be nice. Do read more: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwmorayeels.htm>
But if I have Bichirs in the tank will the salt affect them? I read that they are true freshwater species. What about fire eels that are a foot long?
Will the salt affect them as well? Do fire eels need salt??
<the fire ell is an "Asian" fish (Sumatra, Indochina, Thailand, etc) that prefers soft, acidic water... nothing like your Gymnothorax polyuranodon. Essentially... one of the two is going to be compromised with regard for pH, alkalinity and salinity to a lesser extent. Still... they are hardy... it may not be much of a problem. I must admit that I wouldn't mix them... but if you do not intend to try to breed them you may be just fine>
I keep dwarf puffers in the tank as well. 15 of them actually. They are pretty small at the moment. I heard someone say that if these puffers are swallowed, they will actually inflate such that the aggressor will
have no choice but to spit the puffer out. My concern is if the puffer makes it into the stomach and then inflates. Will it kill my eels? 
<certainly, but is more likely that their toxic flesh will kill the eels first...hehe>
My grouper (abt 12cm) ate one of my puffers and then looked like he wanted to puke it out... But by then he had already swallowed it. He looked pretty uncomfortable after eating the puffer... I am monitoring the situation and will let you know if the grouper makes it through the night!
=P
<please do>
Thanks so much for your advice on medicating fire eels. You are much funnier than Bob. Hahaha... (no offense meant to Bob of course) Well I look forward to your insight once again. Thanks a bunch!!
<ahhh... thank you kindly, but you haven't been around Bob enough. He has an enormous funny bone (insert your own joke here). Hehehe. Best regards, Anthony>

Re: Gymnothorax polyuranodon
Hi Anthony! Thanks again for your SUPER fast response!
<that's what you get when you post a question to someone that doesn't work a real job <wink>>
Here are more questions...
I am now in doubt as to what species my eel really is.
It could be a tile, polyuranodon or rhodochilus. I'm pretty confused now. I want to keep this eel for a long time so I have noticed your recommendation for some salt to be added. However, I noted in your last msg that the polyuranodon is ok in freshwater? 
<lets be clear about this... it is more tolerant of freshwater and brackish water than most morays... but it is not ideal by any stretch of the imagination... please do read Bobs articles/archives on this species>
So does that mean its not necessary to add salt? 
<not even close, my friend... I personally would keep this animal at 1.005-1.010 SG>
What about the other 2 species I mentioned above? Do either of them have good long term prospects in freshwater?
<1.005 is safe and a recommended bare minimum for the true moray eels>
My eel is about a foot long and its roughly the thickness of an index finger. Its not eating yet but I just got it yesterday so... 
<I won't be surprised either if it begins to do better when more salt is added. Do use a hydrometer too please>
Anyway it looks pretty pale in color (pinkish/translucent) and its mottled with pretty light yellow spots. Sort of yellow... Its
design looks something like your pic of the polyuranodon except that it does not have such striking color distinction. It just looks pale. Any idea which one it is?
<couldn't say for certain without seeing it and even then...?>
Assuming I do add salt. My tank is about 15 US gallons.
Its a 2 ft tank measuring 60x30x35cm. Does that mean roughly 1 gram of salt per gallon? Your recommendations in the FAQ is one teaspoon (5gms) per 5 US gallons? 
<that will get you in the ballpark, but a glass hydrometer is less than ten dollars and is quite easy to use... highly recommended>
I also keep a caecilian and dwarf puffers in the tank. I think the caecilian is able to tolerate 5 gm.s per 5 gallons... Any comments? If I
just put 5 gm.s for 15 gallons will it make any difference at all to my moray? 
<all will tolerate the low end of the recommendation for certain>
Does salt make the water more acidic or basic?
<neither...unrelated>
I read your site's article on salt. It says,"5.5g gm.s is sufficient for 294 gallons of water." Then the next paragraph says," For simple osmoregulatory stress protection, on an indefinite basis, one can use 1 to 3 mg/L of salt. This would be equivalent to one teaspoon of salt added to 1,453 to 484 gallons of water!" Is this contradictory or does the second Para just refer to 'SIMPLE stress protection'? 
<again...you'll want to use a hydrometer and aim for 1.005 to 1.010>
What's osmoregulatory stress anyways? =) 
<respiratory distress...typically rapid breathing in eels that are too salty or not salty enough>
This might sound like a stupid question but I'll ask anyway... If salt can distress freshwater fishes at the concentration stated above, then what happens when the salinity hits 1.010? How will this salinity adversely affect true FW fishes?
<easier on the moray but harder on the spiny eels>
Will fire eels be able to withstand 1.005 - 1.010? 
<the lower end for sure...but not comfortably at the higher end>
I assume Bichirs and dwarf puffers can but can fire eels take it? I also read that spiny eels have internal parasites? Is this harmful to them? Should I feed mine some medicine or do I just leave the internal parasites alone?
<all wild fish may have them and many captive are likely as well. Do not medicate unless you need to>
Do plant fertilizers affect Bichirs or eels (morays
and spiny) adversely? 
<unlikely in low doses>
I have a huge piece of driftwood in the tank. It turns my water a very slight brown. Is this good for my eels? 
<delightful for the fire eel...but not natural for the others>
Do dissolved plants affect water chemistry greatly? Do dissolved plants and my wood turn the water more acidic or basic?
<significantly and more acidic.>
I decided to ask more direct questions 'cos I thought that it will aid you seeing as how you have such a unique way of answering everyone's questions. Hope this helps you. Thanks a bunch!!!
<thank you for saying so <smile>. Do look into a local aquarium society for networking and shared info too... they really are great places for info beyond the Internet. Kindly, Anthony>

So-called Freshwater Snowflake eel
Mr. Robert Fenner,
<Anthony Calfo, in your service, my friend>
I have a Snowflake Eel that's been swimming on its side erratically from one end of the tank to the other and sometimes resting upside down. I've noticed he's been breathing very rapidly, too. He's about 28" long and lives in a 65 gallon tank, along with seven 2.5" African cichlids (variety) and a 22" white cheek eel. 
<the first and most likely problem with your eel is that it is suffering from the extended captivity in freshwater. These so-called "freshwater eels" are only comfortable in freshwater at best as juveniles. As they mature they migrate out to brackish water and some eventually to the sea. This is a common question and problem. The size of your eel and rapid gilling is a giveaway. Do buy a hydrometer and begin a adding sea salt slowly to bring the salinity up by .002 daily (not too fast!) until you reach at least normal brackish water of 1.010 within two weeks. Since you have Africans in the main display... I assume/hope that you are already adding a little salty, eh?>
I also keep the feeder gold fish, about a dozen medium size gold fish, 
<really...goldfish are an inadequate food item for crustacean feeding eels. Predators forced to feed on such deficient prey often die of complications prematurely. The aquarists often doesn't realize it because the fish seems to be "fine" eating them for a couple of years (but still doesn't reach a full lifespan). Be sure to mix up the diet with great variety of shell-on creatures (krill, plankton, shrimp, crayfish, etc)>
in a floating container inside the 65 gallon tank. I changed 20% of the water last Tuesday and he's been eating 2-4 Gold Fishes every other day. I've noticed this change of behavior Saturday evening. Right now I have him isolated in a 20 gallon tank with seven small gold fish (feeder fish). He's not very responsive and tends to lay on its side, sometimes. His breathing tends to speed up at times (average about 49-50 breaths per minute) and slows down (30-32 breaths per minute). I'm a little worried about him. I've had him for about 3 years and I about him when he was 17" long. 
Do you know what might be wrong? I've enclosed a picture of him in the sick tank.
<yes... please add some salt promptly as prescribed above. Anthony>
v/r John Black

Freshwater eel? Not in this case?
hello sir
<Greetings, Brian. Anthony Calfo in your service>
I recently purchased a snowflake eel and I'm getting worried about it it is pale colored and it like to lie on its side, gasping for air it seems, I have 3 African cichlids, a tiger Botia, and a blue crawfish, the eel is about 1 foot long they all live in a 20 high he hasn't looked healthy and I was wondering if you could give me your opinion of what it is I need to do. thank you for you time. Brian Dillon
<Brian...your eel is most likely a brackish species. Fortunately, it's tankmates will tolerate and even appreciate some aquarium salt. Add 1 tablespoon per five gallons for starters and only replace it at that dose when you do water changes (not evaporation top off). And look for a picture on the Web (this site and www.fishbase.org) for a picture to identify the species so that we can better help you. Let us know if your eel breathers easier with the salt in the water. Also, test your water quality for any low pH, high ammonia, etc>

Two questions
First of all thanks for your last advice and fast response, I will get the pH and nitrite tests.
1) I have a Gymnothorax polyuranodon (freshwater eel) and some times he changes color to a pale one but just happened twice during a month and later he has its original color, is this normal or what could be happening? is eating well, as I see during everyday observation is quite good.
<This is normal... seems to have more to do with "mood" than water quality, other external influences... Not necessarily an indication of trouble>
2) I will get a freshwater stingray soon but I can't find written thinks online about injuries caused by the sting and envenomation, what should I do in case of envenomation or being touch by it sting ( accidentally, of course I will take care of this everyday).
<Please take a read through the Freshwater Stingray article: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwstingrays.htm
and Injury piece: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Wound.htm
and we'll be chatting. Bob Fenner>
Best regards.
Attn. Carlos Gorgon

Freshwater Eel?
Hi..!
<Hi, Carlos... Anthony Calfo in your service>
A few days ago I got an eel, searching at the web found is just one alike and is called lycodontis tile eel, is just exactly the same I have but I'm not sure if it is a snowflake eel (?).
<no sir... you have a variegated "freshwater eel", which favors brackish water and if kept in freshwater may be stressed not to feed... but not a snowflake moray eel>
This is now 6 inches, small but healthy as I think, it open its mouth sometimes when quite in a place and moves greatly but feeding is kind of concern, since 4 days ago never seen it eating, I tried freeze dried blood worms,
<good food, but not likely to be taken>
fish flakes ( as pet shop owner recommended) a <that person needs a good book... the only way that eel is going to eat flakes is with a slingshot>
and now after more research I set a toothpick with beef heart with just small bites on it but not sure if they were from the eel.
<hmmm... perhaps>
What do you recommend about this situation? 
<try crustaceans (live and frozen)... krill (FD and Frozen maybe)... live ghost/grass shrimp very good>
my eel is moving and breathing as usual so I think is healthy, color, eyes and dorsal fin ( from head to tail) is ok.
<excellent>
What kind of eel is this one.? probably it just eat live fish and need to try. Best regards.
<live fish not necessary, I believe. keep us posted, Anthony>

Eel food..?
Hi..!
searching on your site I found my eel is just the same as: Gymnothorax polyuranodon .
<excellent, Carlos... but that is a good stretch from the tile eel species mentioned in your first e-mail. The feeding advice stays the same... but did you buy the eel in fresh or saltwater. If saltwater, disregard the history mentioned in the last e-mail. Best of luck to you, Anthony>
Thanks.!
Attn. Carlos Gorgon

Re: ALL CAP'S and stocking cichlids and eels
what's wrong with all capitol letters? is this better? 
<Yes, thank you. Much easier to read... an aspect of "netiquette"... rules of polite society>
am not shouting. ok.
(lol)
can I put a freshwater eel in a 55 gallon tank with a red devil and a green terror.?
<Mmm, not really a good idea... "the" freshwater eels are too slow, blind to compete with such "go-getter" cichlids. Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwmorayeels.htm
Be chatting. Bob Fenner>
Gregg

Freshwater morays
Hi Bob,
I have been reading the FAQ on freshwater moray eels and was wondering if you could help me out with a query of mine.
A friend of mine recently acquired 3 freshwater morays directly from a wholesaler. He was informed that they were a freshwater species and that the specimens were actually bred in captivity in freshwater.
<Really? Hmm, have just this last week finished spiffing up this section of WWM... no Morays (Muraenidae) have been spawned, reared in captivity... the larval history phase, the leptocephalus, is very problematical...>
He does not have the Latin name but we believe them to be Echidna rhodochilus and they range in colour from a peppery speckle to whitish.
<Yes... wish I had better pix of the white and black geographic "races"... very beautiful>
I am surprised to hear that they were bred in freshwater but apparently this is the case. They are about 4" long and currently being housed in a 20 gal aquaria where they are doing well and feeding on river shrimp.
<Neat>
Due to the eventual size and conditions they require he has offered them to me as I have a 150 UK gal brackish tank housing Figure eight and green spotted puffer fish.
I am interested in taking these fish but am wondering if my current tank inhabitants are suitable tank mates for these morays. The puffers range in size from 1-4 inches.
<I suspect there might well be trouble with the Puffers both biting these tiny eels and consuming all their food. I would at least put a serious barrier/divider between the front and back of a section of your tank to keep them separated>
I look forwards to hearing your reply!
Many thanks,
Kris Graff
<Be chatting. Bob Fenner>

Re: freshwater morays
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the info and the quick reply!
I was wondering if it would be an option to grow the eels on in a species tank and then introduce them to the main brackish tank with the puffers when they are at a decent size. Would I still see problems here as regards to the eels catching food?
<Possibly... the Puffers might be able to be trained to accept food in one corner, the eels the other...>
I will send you some pictures of the eels as soon as possible. My friend has three of different colour phases, the white is indeed very attractive.
Once again, thank you for your help,
Kris
<Be chatting my friend. Bob Fenner>

"Freshwater " moray eel
Mr. Fenner,
First, like everyone else, I have to thank you both for your excellent book and the responses you post on WWM. They were both very helpful last year when I set up my first reef, which continues to thrive thanks to your advice.
<You are certainly welcome. Thank you for the acknowledgement>
I am writing to you regarding the eel that is commonly sold as "freshwater snowflake moray," which I am using as the centerpiece for a brackish tank. I recently purchased one at 18" that has turned out to be a fantastic fish.
(Just recently came off its hunger strike...big relief for me!)
<Ah, yes>
First, has the scientific name for this eel changed? I see it on WWM referred to as Gymnothorax polyuranodon, but I have seen it referenced elsewhere as Echidna rhodochilus. 
<Hmm, well this is a valid name for one of the "marine/fresh Moray species": http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=
But the former is also freshwater and a valid species: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=
And there are a few others that are occasionally imported for aquarium use... So, both do come to ornamental aquatics through the Philippines, but are separate/different species.>
Second, I have found reliable information on this animal hard to find. I have read the synopsis here and on Fishbase, as well as on Ruben Tolen's brackish site, but I have found little else on the web. I am primarily confused on the salinity this animal needs to be kept at as an adult.
1.010 is about what/where I've seen them kept by the trade... as juveniles. The Echidna I suspect should be kept in NSW, Near Seawater, conditions as an adult>
I always see it referenced as a brackish fish, but reliable responses from other aquarists on AquariaCentral and FishIndex suggest it requires marine conditions as an adult. I am prepared to provide for it either way, but I would like to know what environment will be best for it.
Thanks for your time and your expertise,
Jason
<Actually either or both of us need make a trip down to a large/r college library here (unless you have BIOSIS/Zoological Record access at home/office... Go back to Fishbase.org and click, follow under "references"... and if you have time, inclination, to the library you go, and have a reference librarian show you how to do a computer bibliographic search. Like: http://wetwebmedia.com/litsrchart.htm
Be chatting, Bob Fenner>

Re: "freshwater " moray eel
Mr. Fenner,
Thanks for the quick reply! The freshwater moray that I own looks more like the echidna rhodochilus from these pictures, as does the animal labeled as Gymnothorax polyuranodon on WWM:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0580&view _records=1
Does Gymnothorax polyuranodon display enough color variation to account for this difference in pictures, or is the photo on WWM (or AC) possibly
mislabeled?
<Don't know about the range of color, patterns in this species... all the ones I have seen have been rather bland... if these were indeed G. polyuranodon... But do know (for sure) about the possibility of mislabeled images identified by myself! These are definitely due to error.>
Also, I happen to be student at Virginia Tech, which unfortunately doesn't help as our library does not have the text cited for rhodochilus on Fishbase.
I will look into Interlibrary Loan and see if I can get lucky...I will let you know if I find out anything interesting.
Thanks again,
Jason
<Yes to the interlibrary loan... Do check to see if you have BIOSIS on campus. Bob Fenner>

Freshwater Moray Eels
I really appreciate the time that you took for this site.
<Ah, you're welcome. It was made for you.>
I would like to buy a fresh water Moray Eel. I guess I need some help and no one in pet stores really know anything about freshwater. I am going to put it in a 75-100 gallon tank. What kind of sand should I put down? 
<Something fine/r... and calcareous. Please see the "Marine Substrates" section and "Moray Eels" under the Marine Index (the freshwater species are touched on there)>
Is possible to order a fish through the mail?
<Certainly>
Can I feed them gold fish? And better yet how about a book on fresh water moray. This would really help.
<Not really goldfish, but other live or frozen/defrosted meaty foods. Take a look at the WWM site cited, then fishbase.org then your search engines under "Freshwater Morays">
Thanks,
Michael
<Be chatting my friend. Bob Fenner>

Re: Freshwater Moray Eels
Thanks for getting back to me. I have called all over the place in Virginia looking for a "fresh water moray eel' I have had 0 luck! Do you know of a place that I could order one through the mail or call. <Take a look at the livestock etailers listed on our site (www.WetWebMedia.com) Links Pages>
I have also had no luck looking for a book. <See the "Moray Eels" section on the WWM site>
I figure that I will get a 75 gallon tank with heaters that will keep the tempter a 70-80.{F}. I will have a 2 caves in it so that it can hide and the sand that you recommended. I will buy a power filter. Do you think that I will need a skimmer?
<Probably not a skimmer if you are going to try keeping the water entirely fresh... do take a look through Fishbase.org under the term "freshwater moray". Bob Fenner>
Thanks again,
Michael Davis

Freshwater snowflake moray
I got a snow flake about 2 weeks ago and it wont eat I've tried all sorts of food (Tubifex worms.. live...crustaceans..) please help ... please mail any info you might have thanks
<Do have patience... these Eels frequently go on food strikes when first moved... do keep trying various meaty, live foods, including smaller earthworms (like those you can dig up, or buy at bait stores), and if your other fishes, plants et al. can tolerate it (they should), do place a teaspoon per ten gallons of non-iodized salt (ice-cream, kosher, pickling...) in this system... should help stir appetite and act as a general cathartic.
Bob Fenner>